Harmonix's Alex Rigopulos Loves...Stephen Colbert?

@CaptainCody: I wonder what happened in the past 4 months...oh did we ship DC2 and then have the holiday sales period? I'M JUST RESURFACING. CUT ME SOME SLACK :)

Huh, what a strange confluence of things related to things I like.

Thank you for this news, kind sir

@Methodis said:

Kotck has never stolen from workers or ripped off customers. I don't think any CEO has, and if they have they where quickly out of business or being sued. Bobby Kotick is a great man, a legendary one some might say. He helped take such great franchises as CoD, Guitar Hero, Spiderman and brought them from absolute bottom of the pits rubbish into national treasures. Internet hyperbole got mad because he is very popular. It's the same reason why so many people hate Justin Bieber.

It's just a poor double standard, and makes you question the validity of this article in the first place other than to act as a fluffer to their friends. Mr. Kotick gave $3 million to vets 2 months ago, not a peep was heard. Kotick also stared in a movie, titled MONEYBALL, to give money to charity. GiantBomb instead took the opportunity to poke fun instead of shining a light on the kindness of Mr. Kotick's heart. Them, some no name CEO gives $10k to a political joke and it's headlines? And CELEBRATED to boot?! I know this site is light hearted, but some things make you question the editorial decisions around here.

I will gladly pay $50 to support this site, it's podcasts and it's videos, but I question the news content at times. I understand they're trying to make it better, and having the actual real news stories like the exposition on Game Reviews, Aspergs playing Games etc are really fun to read, along with informational and educate people on things about this "culture"(and I hate to use that). That's where things like these come into play. It serves no real purpose other than to highlight the "Why?". It would be okay if you could turn it into a real article, maybe explaining the links of video game ceo's to the political hemisphere and the elections, but this just seemed worthless.

Oh wow, I'm sure 3 mil puts a real dent into his assets! What a sacrifice! Also, according to that article it's corporate funds not his own. Dude, I donate blood so I've probably saved more lives than that 3 mil ever will.

Bill Gates has donated most of his own money to charity and is working actively with helping, for example, fight malaria in Africa. That's charitable.

I'm sure when Patrick posted this he had no intention of starting this silly shit storm that's somehow brewed here. 
 
Regardless, I found it an interesting fluff piece to close out my night with and don't see what the big deal is.  
I also didn't realize Bobby Kotick subscribed to Giant Bomb, cus that troll is clearly Bobby. No one else would defend him so hard haha 
 
I'm a military veteran and haven't seen a dime from any charitable donation. I don't really want it, and I will continue to struggle to pay bills for eternity. I could care less what Bobby Kotick does with corporate funds, but the dudes at Harmonix I find much more interesting to read about.

Colbert has consistently been the best thing in this country for years now. No one should be surprised that people want to give him lots of money.

“Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission.” AKA Money = Free Speech AKA Corporations are more important "people" than actual people.

@Winsord said:

@Methodis said:

Why don't you cover real news instead of glorifying Harmonix who will be foreclosed this year? Is $10,000 to a SuperPAC really smart when your company stole money from Viacom?

Aaah, there is so much stupid here it hurts. =(

I was going to say something but you summed it up better than I ever could. Comments like this you usually see on IGN. Love IGN's editors but the comments are from the lowest of the low.

@Godlyawesomeguy said:

Man, every time a somewhat political post is made, a shitstorm ensues.

And everytime Harmonix is mentioned within earshot of Methodis, a meltdown ensues. Combine the two, and you get yourself a beautiful trainwreck!

Yo Patrick I'm not saying that you are a bad journalist, but you are a bad journalist if you don't team up with Alex and kidnap John Drake and grill him about this scandal.

Then release said "video interview" on the internet, preferably finished with a dance number.

Harmonix's Alex Rigopulos Loves...Stephen Colbert?

So there are liberals out on the west coast? What a surprise. I can see why so many are up in arms, having just found out this shocking information.

Hahaa , a lot of people hate on Patrick here ....is it because deep down they wanted to be part of the bomb squat? Or is it because the pat (Patrick) is the new kid in town and every body pick on him?

it's goodto seeallthat money I spent on rock band dlc is being putto good use

His name showed up when they were showing names of people who donated.

@Godlyawesomeguy said:

Man, every time a somewhat political post is made, a shitstorm ensues.

You get involved in posts a lot regarding sex and violence. Not saying that's bad or good, but you're there often to opine.

@Johntdrake said:

@CaptainCody: I wonder what happened in the past 4 months...oh did we ship DC2 and then have the holiday sales period? I'M JUST RESURFACING. CUT ME SOME SLACK :)

Only if you cut me some magic, evil conspiracy money!

@Quemador said:

Hahaa , a lot of people hate on Patrick here ....is it because deep down they wanted to be part of the bomb squat? Or is it because the pat (Patrick) is the new kid in town and every body pick on him?

is the bomb squat some new pornographic website for fecal loving terrorists?

@CaptainCody said:

Only if you cut me some magic, evil conspiracy money!

You clearly aren't in the know, sheeple. The Harmonilluminatis get their salary in the form of baby tears and orphans crushed dreams.

Man these comments are hilarious.

@MrKlorox said:

So there are liberals out on the west coast? What a surprise. I can see why so many are up in arms, having just found out this shocking information.

What are you talking about?

@UncleBenny said:

Yo Patrick I'm not saying that you are a bad journalist, but you are a bad journalist if you don't team up with Alex and kidnap John Drake and grill him about this scandal.

Then release said "video interview" on the internet, preferably finished with a dance number.

This must be read by Patrick and Alex.

I think Colberts Super-PAC is a good cause, this anonymous bribing is ridiculous and he is fighting against it.

What did I just read in these comments?

I think I just saw a guy say that poor Viacom was robbed by evil Harmonix and that Bobby Kotick was a saint for donating money to veterans. Even though it could be argued that the Call of Duty franchise is fairly exploitative of the danger and horrors of war and makes it into something cheap and tawdry. He is also the guy who said

"We have a real culture of thrift. The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games."

I'm also all for more dance numbers in interviews as well.

Who knew I would wake up to this? Thanks, Giant Bomb community.

Are you guys really saying this has nothing to do with videogames?

How... where do you draw the line then? You can't make "games journalism" happen out of thin air. Atleast this isn't "LOOK AT THIS CAKE WITH MARIO ON IT!!!!!!" Kotaku shit.

Good man, cool story.

Politics and games? Give me more!

@ez123: My bad. I thought Harmonix was in California, not Massachusetts. Still, people shouldn't be so shocked that Alex Rigopulos leans left. Just cause he's the CEO of a once booming company, it doesn't mean he's automatically a right-winger.

@Methodis said:

Why don't you cover real news instead of glorifying Harmonix who will be foreclosed this year? Is $10,000 to a SuperPAC really smart when your company stole money from Viacom?

I want you to read what you wrote and tell me how ridiculous you think you sound.

Huh... so this Methodis guy is pretty mental, eh?

I knew when he called Rock Band's website "rock-banned.com" that we were dealing with someone really special.

@benson: Do you even know why there is a Colbert Super PAC? Sounds like you don't.

Huh. Must be no actual, relevant news today I guess. That seems to be happening a lot lately.

@Scotto: Rock banned is a forum about how Harmonix is evil apparently. Methodis likes to brag about the fact that when non-insiders try to go look at how much of a circlejerk it is, they get sent some porn.

@CptBedlam: I do, I think it's pretty cool. What did I say to make you think otherwise?

@Sharkington said:

@pw2566ch said:

I really thought I would say this, but please keep these type of articles on Kotaku.

And I say please continue. Every piece of content does not need to appeal to every person. I don't watch the Endurance Run videos, but you don't see me complaining that they need to stop producing that content.

Don't get me wrong. His other articles are top notch, along with everything else on here. It's just that this is one of those typical "Hey look! A game developer has an everyday life" Kotaku articles.

@benson said:

@CptBedlam: I do, I think it's pretty cool. What did I say to make you think otherwise?

This: "I think it's because he previously donated money to Obama's campaign, and they think donating to a campaign and donating to a Super PAC are the same thing."

@CptBedlam: So?

@benson said:

@CptBedlam: So?

What's hypocritical about it?

Tell me: why does the Colbert Super PAC exist?

@CptBedlam said:

@benson said:

@CptBedlam: So?

What's hypocritical about it?

Tell me: why does the Colbert Super PAC exist?

Nothing is hypocritical about it, John Drake was asking why people thought that Rigopulos is a hypocrite, I answered that IMO it's because they conflated campaign and Super Pac, therefore Rigopulos shouldn't donate to Colbert's Super Pac since he previously donated to Obama's campaign.

The Colbert Super PAC exists to expose the ridiculousness of Super PACs.

wgas

@benson:Alright then. Misunderstanding. I thought you quoting the "why is it hypocritical"-post and answering it that way meant you think it's hypocritical, too. My bad. ;)

I think it's rather selfish for someone to say "don't post this" just because someone doesn't like it. If that were the case, I think most people wouldn't be posting comments.

as a republican i'm never buying another harmonix game ever again

@Fuga said:

as a republican i'm never buying another harmonix game ever again

As a non-Republican, I'll buy two of every Harmonix game to make up for you.

@Bumpton said:

@Fuga said:

as a republican i'm never buying another harmonix game ever again

As a non-Republican, I'll buy two of every Harmonix game to make up for you.

As someone who doesn't give a damn about politics, I'll buy 3.

Why do your political views influence your videogame purchases?

@Methodis said:

@TruthTellah said:

@Methodis said:

Although I guess the fact that Viacom is involved with the Super PAC that theres extreme hyperbole on the CEO giving money to the people he accuses of cheating him out of money.

Technically, Viacom has nothing to do with the Colbert Super Pac. Under Federal law, they can't be part of it. That's why Stephen Colbert had to jump through hoops to make sure that simply showing his daily program wasn't considered a contribution to the Super Pac. Viacom is not an official sponsor of the Super Pac or a contributor. It is the work of Stephen Colbert and his team alone.

Supporting the Colbert Super Pac(aka. the Anti Super Pac Super Pac) is not in any way a support of Viacom, as none of the money goes to Viacom. The money is solely under the authority of Stephen Colbert and his personal team.

This may be true, but Viacom earns money from advertising and the Colbert Show itself, which uses the Super PAC to draw in viewers, which this CEO contributed to!

Who can ever escape this Kevin Bacon logic? I'm sure I'm only a degree or two from being responsible as well!

Whoa, this conversation went to a totally crazy place. So, how bout them Giants?